Council takes first step in running children's homes

Plymouth City Council has purchased its first property to be used as a children's home after agreeing a £2m capital investment last November.

The council said the move was a "major step towards ensuring more local children in care can be supported and looked after in their home city", reducing reliance on private placements.

It said running its own homes would help cut costs, with private residential care averaging £6,700 a week per child, and sometimes rising much higher.

The first home was expected to open in the coming months, subject to final preparations and Ofsted registration, with further homes planned next year.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council's latest overspend on private residential placements was estimated at £3.8m.

The authority said it expected to save between £200,000 and £500,000 in the first year by opening its own children's homes.

The exact location of the first property was not disclosed to protect the safety and privacy of the children.

The home will be the first of five small residential properties the council hoped to open, each caring for a small number of children.

David Haley, Plymouth's director of children's services, said the council's aim was to open as many homes as it could staff and manage to meet local need.

The council had also secured £1.5m from the Department for Education towards a £3m new-build home for children with complex emotional and behavioural needs.

The first home would provide short-term care for two to three children, supported by trained staff available around the clock and a registered manager.

The council said children would continue attending local schools and activities and receive tailored support to help them return home or move into foster care.

Deputy council leader Councillor Jemima Laing said: "The purchase of this home is a hugely positive moment for Plymouth's children.

"Every child deserves a safe, stable and nurturing home and crucially, one that keeps them connected to the people and places that matter to them."

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